The Animal Control Officer for the Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley is appointed by Council. Reporting to the By-law Enforcement Officer, it is the responsibility of the Animal Control Officer to investigate reports to follow up on complaints made by Township residents regarding dogs running at large, persistent barking and other violations of the Dog By-law.

The Animal Control Officer has the authority to impound a dog and transport it to the appropriate location pending contact with the owner of the dog.

The Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley does not currently license cats. The Animal Control Officer and the By-law Enforcement Officer do not impound stray cats; additionally Riverdale Kennels does not accept cats on behalf of the Township.

The By-law 18-16 of the Township of Elizabethtown-Kitley established the regulations for the Township with regard to dogs and kennels. To view the complete by-law, as well as By-laws 02-53, 11-62 and 14-32, amending Dog By-law 02-23, please click here.

The by-law establishes several offences for which dogs may be impounded and their owners fined. These offences include running at large, persistent barking and public nuisance.

What does running at large mean? In By-law 18-16, Section IV (2), running at large is defined as:

A dog shall be deemed to be running at large unless the dog is:

a.) Constrained by a leash,
b.) On the owners property and under the care and control of its owner,
c.) Being used for hunting and under the direct control of the owner or the owner's
designate,
d.) Inside the owner's residence, or
e.) Contained within a vehicle, building or structure or cage described in Schedule "B".

What constitutes a public nuisance? Section VI (2) of By-law 18-16 describes public nuisance as it relates to dogs in the following manner:

2. A dog or a kennel of dogs can be considered a public nuisance if,
a) it persistently barks or howls for unreasonable lengths of time,
b) it has offensive odour or odours that may attract other animals, except when the odour
is caused by a female dog in heat that is properly cared for,
c) it dumps or scatters garbage or trash,
d) it persistently chases vehicles or pedestrians that are using public or private property
adjacent to the property which is harbouring the dog, or
e) it excretes feces on property other than the property harbouring the dog.

A fine of $100.00 is applicable to dogs that are found to be a public nuisance.

The following fines are in Schedule A of By-law 18-16. These fines may be levied against the owner of the dog in addition to the release fees charged in the event the animal has been impounded. Impounded animals are discussed in the next section.

Violation Set Fine

Unlicensed Dog $25.00

Dog tag used on dog other than the dog registered $25.00

Leaving dog waste on private property $25.00

Dog running at large $50.00

Dog not on leash $50.00

Dog with offensive odour $50.00

Dog being a public nuisance $100.00

Release Fees for Impounded Animals

There are a number of situations within which the Animal Control Officer or the By-law Enforcement Officer may impound a dog. The fees to free impounded animals are found in Schedule A of By-law 18-16.

Release Fees
Offence Set Fee

First Offence $50.00

Second Offence $90.00

Third Offence $130.00

Subsequent Offences (Charges must be laid under the Provincial Offences Act) $200.00

An aggressive dog is defined under Section 1 of the By-law 18-16 as "any dog that has bitten a person or a domestic animal without provocation, or has a known propensity, tendency or disposition to attack without provocation persons or other domesticated animals".

Under this By-law special requirements are placed on the owner of aggressive dogs, including special licensing fees.

Dog owners with more than three dogs may be required to obtain a kennel license. Kennels are addressed in Section VII of By-law 18-16 and in Schedules B, C and D of said By-law. Kennel license fees are laid out in Schedule A.